Turning A Negative Into A Positive
Acts 21:27-22:29
All of us deal with negative situations from time to time; it's a part of being human, right? We face them at work, at school, at home, in our neighborhoods and even sometimes at church. Sometimes there are those people who it seems just don't like us - or don't like anybody for that matter. Well today, I'm going to be sharing with you principles on how to turn a negative into a positive. And it just so happens that on Tuesday of this week, someone came by the church office and gave me this Bible - it's the Robert Schuler Positivity Thinking Bible. He takes his power of positive thinking philosophy and interprets the Bible through that philosophy. So I gained a lot of insight from Robert Schuler in my sermon prep this week. ANNGGKK - FALSE!
I DID get this Bible, but I'm definitely NOT going to espouse Schuler's "power of positive thinking" today; or the power of a positive self-image; or the power of a positive outlook on life. I'm talking about the power of a positive profession of Jesus in the midst of a negative environment that is hostile to the gospel. We'll see that in Paul's example in our text today.
You see we're in this series called "The Church on Mission" as we've been studying through the book of Acts. This is sermon #41 in that series. We've looked at how the early church was used powerfully by God to impact many with the life-transforming truth of the gospel. By God's grace we will be that kind of church. Additionally, in all our small groups we're in a 5-week study called "Life On Mission." This is a study that is teaching us how as individuals, we can simply yet effectively share the gospel; how to give a positive profession.
Our heart, our vision is for Lookout Valley Baptist Church to be a mission-minded, gospel-centered church. And in order for us to be a mission-minded, gospel-centered church we must be made up of covenant church members who are individually mission minded and gospel-centered. In order for us to reach that goal we must keep that vision in front of us.
Illustration: I read something very interesting this week. Do you know at what mile of the 26 mile course most marathon runners give up? It's not mile 1, that's when there's all kinds of energy and excitement; and you're pushing yourself right out of the gate to go! Some might think it's mile 25, after your energy is spent, your legs are cramping, your feet are throbbing.
But here's what I learned this week - mile 25 is actually the second least likely mile for a marathon runner to drop out of the race. Why is that? Because the finish line is in view. The goal of completing the race is right in front of them. And no matter the pain and hardship and suffering involved, they push through it to accomplish that vision.
The most likely mile for people to drop out is actually mile 20. After there has been significant time trudging through the grueling race and the goal still seems a long way off, that's when people are likely to quit. What this tells me is this - we've got to constantly keep the goal, the vision, the purpose in view.
And here's what we must recognize - we live in a culture; we live in a world that is hostile to the gospel. 1 John 5:19 says the whole world lies under the power of the evil one. And as the church of Jesus Christ begins to make inroads into that world, rescuing the perishing, you better believe that the enemy is going to fight against our rescue mission with all the vim and vigor he can muster.
One who experienced this satanically-inspired hostility and opposition was the apostle Paul. In every city, in every town, as his preaching makes inroads to these communities and people's lives are transformed by truth, Satan hates it. And he fights back to keep people in his clutches.
This morning as we arrive at the end of chapter 21. The passage before us today marks a major transition in the life and ministry of the apostle Paul. Since his conversion on the road to Damascus some 25 years earlier, he has freely ministered and preached wherever his journey's took him, except for a brief imprisonment in Philippi. But from this point on in Acts, Paul will be a prisoner. This did not however bring an end to Paul's Gospel ministry. He became, as he described in Eph 6:20, "an ambassador in chains."
So really, we could call the next 7 chapters of Acts, "Turning a Negative into a Positive" because that's exactly what happens. Paul begins a prison ministry from the inside of prisons. In fact, many of Paul's letters that are inspired Scripture in our Bibles were written from these prisons.
So let me tell you where we're going to go for the next 30 minutes or so. We're going to read the entire passage before us and I'm going to explain things along the way, kind of like a running commentary. Then at the conclusion today I'm going to briefly give you five principles we can draw from Paul's example in this passage.
These principles will help us turn a negative situation into a positive profession for Christ. It really is best that we cover this lengthy passage in one message because it’s one, long unfolding scene. So look in your Bible...
21:27When the seven days were almost completed, what are the seven days? The seven days of purification that the Jewish Christians encouraged Paul to undergo in order to gain a hearing among the Jews. Paul is almost completed with that, but the process is cut short. Why...
the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, Who are these Jews from Asia? When it says Asia, it's referring to modern day Turkey. More than likely these are some who had a beef with Paul when he was in Ephesus. We'll read in verse 29 they recognized Trophimus who was an Ephesian. And I can just imagine as they're in the temple courts, they look across the crowd and one of them elbows another, "Hey, isn't that the troublemaker Paul? Let's get closer to check it out. It is him!" When they recognized it was in fact Paul they wasted no time seizing him and stirring up the crowd...
28crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” Two charges against Paul they used to stir up the crowd. One was what they accused him of saying, the other is what they accused him of doing. First, they accuse him of teaching against the people, the law, and the temple. The same basic accusations that were brought against Stephen way back in Acts chapter 7.
So first they charge him with teaching against the people. What people? The Jewish people. This is a charge of anti-Semitism and it's an outrageous claim. If there was anyone who loved the Jewish people, it was Paul. All you have to do is see the sacrifices he made to reach the Jews. He even wrote in Romans 9 that he wished he could himself be accursed and cut off from Christ, for the sake of the salvation of his own race, his own people.
They also accused him of teaching against the Law, which again was a false charge. But this charge would have particularly enraged the crowds because of the celebration that was happening at this time. Paul was in Jerusalem for the celebration of the Jewish festival, Pentecost. Pentecost had become a celebration of all that it means to be Jewish, especially as it relates to the Law. So all those gathered in Jerusalem for this feast - perhaps as many as 2 million people - were there to celebrate the Law. This is a super-charged, amped-up Jewish crowd.
And the third charge of his teaching was that Paul was teaching against the temple. Nevermind the fact that Paul was completing a 7-day purification rite that would conclude in the Temple, and nevermind the fact that he personally paid for 4 men to conclude their Nazarite vow in the temple; he was accused - just like Jesus, and just like Stephen - of teaching against the temple. That led to their eventual death and no doubt these riot instigators were hoping for the same outcome with Paul.
But not only did they accuse him of saying wrong things, but doing wrong things. They accused him of bringing Greeks - non Jews - into the temple. In fact, look at verse 29: 29For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
They knew Paul had brought Gentiles to Jerusalem with him, and they accused him of violating and desecrating the Temple by bringing them into the temple with him.
This would have been a serious violation. you see, at the entrance of the temple there were these massive columns with inscribed warnings. Any non-Jew passing that point would be killed. In fact, archaeologists actually discovered one of these ancient warnings in 1935. The inscription read: "No Gentile shall enter within the partition and barrier surrounding the temple, and whoever is caught shall be responsible to himself for his subsequent death." And the Romans allowed the Jewish people to enforce that rule. Now, it's not Paul who would be killed, but the Gentile violator. So obviously, Paul would have known this and he would never have put his friends in harms way by taking them into the temple. But logic rarely comes into the reasoning of the mob mentality. Here's how they responded...
30Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. One of the things that the Roman Empire would not tolerate is public disorder. Now in Jerusalem, the place that was most likely to happen was in and around the Temple complex because that's where large gatherings of people would congregate.
Now overlooking the temple complex was the watchtowers of Fort Antonia. Fort Antonia was the headquarters of the Roman occupation forces in Jerusalem. In fact just this week, on Tuesday as a matter of fact, I was reading the morning headlines and came across this article which discussed how archaeologists have just discovered the location of those guardtowers, which solves a major mystery as to the exact location of the temple.
You also see in the next image a model depicting what that may have looked like. To the left you see the large open space within the temple complex, and the four towers positioned immediately beside the temple. The Roman Sentries would watch over the temple complex looking out for any kind of disorder or riotous activity. Listen, the Bible is true history, ok?
So according to the text, these sentries sent word to their commander, the tribune, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. Now the word translated "tribune" is the Greek word chiliarch. That word literally means the commander of 1,000. The Roman military was very well ordered and structured. You had a chiliarch, who would be the commander of 1,000. Then under him would be 10 centurions, they would each command how many soldiers? 100 - a century is 100 years.
The tribune was the commander of the occupying force in Jerusalem. A well-trained riot squad of 1,000 soldiers. He hears there's a disturbance, and he responds quickly... 32He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. They show up quick. The Romans don't take public disorder lightly. And when they [that is the Jews who had seized Paul] saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. I just imagine these rabble rousers getting in their last punches and last kicks on Paul just before they scurry away as riot squad is upon them. Now notice who gets arrested...
33Then the tribune came up and arrested him {PAUL} and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. 34Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!” Do you remember any other instance when a mob in Jerusalem was yelling “Away with him” to Roman officials? It was about 25 years earlier when Pilate wanted to release Jesus because he had done nothing worthy of death, and the mob yelled out, “Away with this man!” Luke 23:18. Away with him means, kill him, we want him dead! In fact the mob was so intent on seeing him killed that verse 35 says when the soldiers brought Paul to the steps leading out of the temple complex they had to lift him up and carry him because of the violence of the crowd. Quite a scene Luke describes for us here.
37As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” When the commander heard Paul speak in Greek, he was shocked.
You see Greek was the language of the educated, it was the language of the cultured. Apparently the commander had already developed a theory about who he thought this trouble maker was. He thought Paul was an Egyptian who had led a revolt against Rome some time earlier. Governor Felix squashed that revolt and chased the 4,000 men into the wilderness, slaughtering hundreds of them. The Egyptian leader escaped along with many others and formed an assassin group that would often bring terrorist attacks during large gatherings of people like here at Pentecost.
The word translated “Assassins” literally means “dagger men.” These were holdovers from the revolt who would go through large crowds with a small sword or dagger under their coat. Then they would pull the dagger out and thrust it into someone and leave in obscurity during the confusion. The commander thought Paul was one of these dagger men, or perhaps even their Egyptian leader. Notice how Paul corrects his wrong assumption:
39Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. He says, “I’m not from Egypt, I’m from the city of Tarsus – no obscure city, perhaps you’ve heard of it?” The ancient city of Tarsus rivaled Athens and Alexandria as being a premier city for education, art and culture. Though not as prominent as Athens and Alexandria, it was still very well known. To put it in SEC terms it would be like saying, “I’m from Knoxville, perhaps you’ve heard of it – Go Vols! Now I know we’re no Tuscaloosa and certainly not Gainesville, but we’re not chump change either!”
So after he clears up his city of origin, look at the bold request Paul makes of the commander at the end of verse 39: I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” You mean these people that just tried to kill you; these people my soldiers just saved from; you want to talk to them? Ok, go ahead…40And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying: Now when it says the Hebrew language, it means the language the Hebrews spoke in the first century, which, by the way, was not Hebrew – it was Aramaic. Here’s what’s amazing – Paul knows what language to speak at just the right time to have the maximum impact and influence. He speaks in Greek to the Roman military commander, and speaks in Aramaic when addressing the Jewish people.
Now chapter 22 begins with Paul’s public address to the Jews gathered there at the temple. 22:1“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” 2And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:
3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. 4I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
As he begins his address to the crowd gathered there, he makes several connecting points with them. First, as I mentioned, he speaks in their language. He tells them that he is a Jew – like they are. By saying he was brought up in the city although he was born in Tarsus indicates that more than likely he came to Jerusalem after his 13th birthday, after his Bar Mitzvah, and at the age of 13 entered the Rabbinical school. It was in that school he was educated by the most revered Jewish scholar of his day, one Gamaliel. Everyone there knew who Gamaliel was, and having been personally instructed by him would have impressed those faithful Jews.
He then answered the accusation that he is against the law by saying he was taught according to the strict manner of the law, the law of OUR fathers – not your fathers, OUR fathers. And then he says he was zealous. And in an incredible show of solidarity he says, “I was so zealous for God, I was just like all of you are today! You all in your zealousness for truth and righteousness were just beating me a few moments ago. Listen, I was too! All you’ve got to do is ask the high priest.”
Now when he invoked the name of the high priest, that would have been impressive. “Are you saying the high priest knows you Paul?” “Not only does he know me, but I sat on the high council of the elders. And just to show you what a zealot I was, I received extradition papers from the high priest and the Sanhedrin to go into Damascus w/my brute squad to round up Christians, put them in chains and bring them back to Jerusalem.
Do you see what he’s doing here? He’s creating these points of contact with his listeners. He’s gaining an audience to hear his testimony. Through the language he speaks, through the fact that he’s a Jew, his educational background, and his zealous hostility against the church. And now that he’s got them where at least they’ll listen to him, he begins to tell his personal testimony about meeting Jesus Christ.
6“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
This is Paul’s Damascus Road experience; this is his conversion experience, this is his personal testimony. Paul’s personal testimony is central to his gospel message. We have it recorded in Acts 9, here before the Jewish mob in Acts 22, and then again before King Agrippa in Acts 26. Paul then repeats his conversion experience in Philippians 3, 1 Timothy 1, and Galatians 1. Again, his personal testimony is central to his gospel witness.
8And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ Can you imagine all those people standing there listening to that? "Did he just say what I thought he said? Jesus of Nazareth, talking to him outta heaven. Wasn’t Jesus of Nazareth one of those Rabbi’s with a Messiah complex who was executed for blasphemy 25 years ago? What's he doing talking outta heaven?"
And then Paul adds this tremendous corroboration, verse 9 9Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. Just go ask some of the guys who were with me on that brute squad. They saw the light, they heard the voice, though they couldn’t understand it because He was speaking to me. Go ask them if you don’t think this story is true.
10And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ 11And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.
12“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, [Again, making a point of Jewish connection – he was a devout man spoken well of by all the Jews] he… 13came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One [A messianic title] and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
17“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, [This happened in the temple, another connection to his Jewishness] I fell into a trance 18and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ 21And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
Now up until this point, the Jews gathered there were right on the edge of their seat, hanging on every word of Paul’s testimony. Until he said the word “Gentiles.” At that point their seething prejudice took over…
22Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” They wanted Paul dead. 23And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, You may say, “That’s a strange way to act, throwing your coat off and flinging dust into the air.” More than likely this was portraying the act of stoning. We just read where Paul was watching the garments of those who killed Stephen by stoning. Men would take off their outer garments so as not to be encumbered, so they could hurl the rocks with as much velocity as possible. Finding no rocks to throw at Paul, they picked up whatever clods of dirt they could find and started fling the dust into the air.
24the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, [we call this enhanced interrogation] to find out why they were shouting against him like this. 25But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” The answer is “No” it was not lawful. If a Roman Citizen was flogged without the proper judicial proceedings, the Roman Law called for execution of the official who ordered that flogging; a very serious offense. Again, Paul knows just went to pull out the Ace.
26When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” 27So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” 28The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” 29So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen & that he had bound him.
Quite a fascinating account. Now for the next few brief minutes, I want to draw out five principles from this passage that can instruct us on how to turn a negative situation into a positive profession.
I suppose that every Christian is faced at times with the dilemma of how to give a positive profession in the middle of a negative situation. You may have been in a situation where you have expressed your faith and the whole world seems to come down upon you. Then you’re faced with the internal struggle of whether or not to ever say anything else.
You may have had a boss that says, “At work is neither the time or place to discuss religion. Keep it to yourself.” But yet you know there’s a higher authority who says like Peter said, “Obey God, not men.” Well here are 5 principles to help you give a positive profession in a negative situation.
I. CONSIDER The Obstacle As God's SOVEREIGNTY
Paul never viewed the hostility he experienced as ultimately being anything other than God’s sovereign purpose. Paul went to Jerusalem, as we saw last week, with multiple confirmations from those who love him that he would in fact become a prisoner. Agabus the prophet said he would be bound up, and sure enough, here he is bound up in chains. But you never see Paul saying he’s bound up by the Jews, or bound up by the Romans, or that he’s a prisoner of Caesar. In fact, just the opposite. Look at some of these verses from Paul’s own pen…
I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles. Ephesians 3:1
Who does he say he’s a prisoner for? For Christ Jesus. Look what he told Timothy…
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner.
2 Timothy 1:8
Again, he doesn’t say he’s Rome’s prisoner, or the emperor’s prisoner, he’s a prisoner of Jesus Christ. Same thing in Philemon 1:
Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus. Philemon 1:1
From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. Galatians 6:17
12I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. Philippians 1:12-13
The point is this. Paul saw the negative situation as being smack dab in the middle of God’s sovereign purpose and plan. Here’s why that’s so important. Because when you recognize that the negative situations you find yourself in are actually a part of God’s plan and purpose, you won’t be shocked; you won’t be surprised. And you'll know God has you there for a specific reason.
When your co-workers are intent on talking about things they know make you feel uncomfortable - God has a purpose for you in that.
When the teacher at school or professor at college calls you out because you defended your faith in research paper - it's part of God's plan for you.
When a supervisor is extra stringent on you because of your profession of faith - it's part of God's purpose.
How do you turn a negative situation into a positive testimony. First, consider the obstacle as a part of God's sovereign plan. He has you in the middle of the negative situation for a reason. Here's the second thing...
II. CREATE An Opportunity To SHARE
Instead of crawling into a hole, instead of retreating into the corner, take that negative situation and create an opportunity out of it to share; use it as a platform to communicate your hope in God. Paul wasn't sitting around waiting for someone to give him the chance to speak, he created the opportunity. He didn't say, "Oh, I hope something happens so I can talk to these people. I sure hope the Lord opens the door for me to give a witness." No, Paul knocked down the door! Some people are sitting around waiting for all the right doors to open before they give their positive profession - do you know what, you're going to be waiting a long time!
Look at the end of verse 39: I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.”
Paul looks out on this mass of people, a mob that was moments earlier trying to kill him. And after clearing up his identity with the Roman commander he asks him, the one person who had the authority to provide this opportunity, he asks him - the text says he begs him - to permit him to speak to the people. I love that! Paul saw this tiny sliver of time, and he created an opportunity to share. We've got to look for these moments where we can create an opportunity to share.
III. CONNECT To Others Through SIMILARITIES
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.” Acts 22:3
As soon as Paul is given permission to speak he starts making points of connection with his hearers. He doesn't try to distance himself from them, he's attempting to endear himself to them.
Do everything you can to win the audience; find common ground. One of the most important things in sharing your faith is to somewhere along the line establish some point of contact, some kind of saying, "Well, you know, I understand exactly how you feel."
In verse 3 he maximizes their similarities. He's basically saying, "You guys are so zealous you're beating up a Christian - guess what, I used to beat up Christians too!" High five!
And part of what you're doing here is peeling back the veneer of your own life and revealing some of your own past, your own sin, your own mistakes. This makes the testimony credible; it makes it believable. But that leads to the fourth principle on how to turn a negative into a positive...
IV. CALL The Opposition To The SAVIOR
And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ Acts 22:8
At some point in the witness, you have got to talk about Jesus; you've got to talk about how he invaded your life. That's what Paul does. His testimony is clear, he was walking in one direction then all of a sudden - bam - God invaded his life; Jesus called him to follow him.
When you talk about the transformation that God has wrought in your life, talk about it from God's side. Say things like, "Here's what God did." "Here's how he rescued me." "Here's the circumstances he arranged so that I would hear the gospel and believe." And here's what that does - it takes the focus off of you and puts the focus on the Savior. It takes the focus off of what you have done and puts the focus on what God has done. And when you put the focus on the Savior, and not on yourself; when you call them to respond to the invitation of Jesus and they reject the invitation, what they've done is they haven't rejected you, they've rejected Jesus; they've haven't rejected your faith, they've rejected God's work in your life.
And that leads the final principle I want us to consider this morning. How do we turn a negative situation into a positive profession?
V. COMMIT The Outcome To The SPIRIT
The bottom line is this: you leave the results, you commit the outcome of your positive profession to the Holy Spirit of God. You trust him for the results. Paul told the church in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 3; I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 1 Corinthians 3:6
You just keep doing your best; pray that it's blessed; and he'll take care of the rest. Look at what Paul told the church in Corinth in 2 Corinthians:
Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13
Our faith is the same faith as Paul's. We believe the same thing he believed. And that belief compelled him to speak. Likewise, it should compel us to speak; it should compel us to make a positive profession in negative situation.
Closing Illustration: In Greek mythology there is a god called Kairos. In Greek the word Kairos means "the opportune time." This mythological god is known as opportunity. You notice he's got an interesting haircut. It's like a reverse mullet. Instead of business in the front, party in the back he's got party in the front, business in the back. He's got long flowing locks in the front, but shaved bald in the back.
What's up with that? Here's what it's communicating: When opportunity is coming toward you, you can grab a hold of those flowing locks, but once opportunity has passed by, there's nothing there, opportunity slips through your fingers.
Christian, we've been called to grab a hold of the opportunity of a negative situation by making a positive profession. But I know, I understand there's an internal struggle. There's a struggle to protect your ego; to protect your image; to protect your popularity; to protect your status. And those internal impulses compel us to clam up and not say anything. But in closing I would ask you, as we come to a time of response to the word, that you would be motivated by something else in the middle of those opportunities to share, and it's my...
Last Thought: Turning a negative situation into a positive profession means releasing the impulse of SELF-PRESERVATION and being motivated by the attitude of SELFLESS LOVE.
Paul is the epitome of releasing the impulse of self-preservation. "Paul, if you go to Jerusalem you're going to be beaten and thrown in prison." And Paul replies, I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24
